PULSED LASER DEPOSITION (PLD)

Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) is a versatile technique used for growing metallic and oxide thin films and multilayers. The equipment consists of an LPX 105 Lambda Physik excimer laser (KrF, λ = 248 nm, V = 19 – 26 KV; ν = 2 – 15 Hz; τ = 17 ns) and two high vacuum chambers (P > 10^-8 mbar) equipped with a multitarget system for the fabrication of thin films and heterostructures of complex materials. Deposition can be performed at different temperatures (25 - 800°C) and under a controlled atmosphere (es. vacuum, Ar, N₂, O₂).

CHEMICAL LABORATORIES

Two fully equipped chemical laboratories are available for the synthesis of metal and oxide nanoparticles, complex nanoarchitectures and nanocomposites. The laboratories include a total of 7 chemical hoods for 11 work-stations, 4 Schlenk Lines, ovens and muffles for heat treatments in air and under a controlled atmosphere

3D PRINTER

Creality3D CR-X Dual Extruder. It is a commercial 3D printer used to fabricate magnetic polymer nanocomposites (double-injection/one-out nozzle, print area: 300 x 300 x 400 mm, nozzle size: 0.4mm, accuracy: 0.1 mm; print speed: 80 – 100 mm/s).

SQUID MAGNETOMETER

Quantum Design MPMS XL-5. It is a high sensitivity magnetometer (1x10^-9 Am²) for the characterization of magnetic materials (nanopowders, thin films, bulks and liquids) over a broad range of temperatures (4K < T < 400K) and magnetic fields up to 5 T.

Vector-VSM MAGNETOMETER

MicroSense Model 10. It is the state of the art in VSM magnetometers in terms of sensitivity (5x10^-9 Am²) and accuracy for characterizing nanopowders, thin films, liquids and bulk magnetic materials. It is equipped with two sets of pick-up coils perpendicular to each other and a rotating electromagnet (± 540º) that can supply a maximum field of 2 T. The peculiar geometry allow performing vector and angular magnetic measurements over a broad range of temperatures (100 K < T < 780K). A 4-point probe is available for in-plane magneto-resistance (1 – 10 kW) measurements.

HYSTERESIGRAPH

Laboratorio Elettrofisico AMH-300. It is an automatic measuring system meeting the International Standard IEC 60404-5 and ASTM A977 for qualitative and certified characterization of sintered and bonded permanent magnets.

GLOVEBOX WORKSTATION

Glovebox workstation MBRAUN model MB200B supported 3 workspaces operated in the inert N2 atmosphere. Inside glovebox equipped with oven, press and balance. This complex allows working with reactive materials, for example, metallic nanoparticles.

HIGH-ENERGY BALL MILL

High-energy ball mill Emax setup from Retsch having 2 grinding jars and ball set made of tungsten carbide. This device allows reducing particle size bellow 80 nm at operating speed 300‑2000 min^-1. In combination with glovebox provide the possibility to work in inert atmospheres to prevent oxidation of powders.

SONICATOR

Sonication system Sonic Ruptor 400 operated at power up to 400 watts in continuous and pulsed modes. Depending on the tip allow working with the volume of sample from 250 µl to 1 L. This system is useful for nanoparticle dispersion, creating emulsions and sonochemistry.

CENTRIFUGE

Centrifuge Eppendorf model 5430 accommodate rotor for microplates and 15/50 mL conical tubes. Maximal speed is 30130 × g (17500 rpm). The centrifuge is useful for the separation of solid nanoparticles from suspension.

THERMAL TREATMENT SETUP

Setup for thermal treatment in controlled atmospheres which allows performing annealing of samples in switchable ambient, N2, H2 and ammonia atmospheres. The system is assembled with split tube furnaces with the maximal temperature of 1200 C controlled with PID and programable gas-flow valves Bronkhorst.

MAGNETIC FILED 3D MAPPING

System for 3D-mapping of magnetic field equipped with gaussmeter LakeShore Model 475 DSP with DC measurement resolution of 0.02 mG. Precise position system allows controlling the position of the probe with a step of 0.05 mm.

DYNAMIC LIGHT SCATTERING

Dynamic light scattering Malvern Zetasizer Nano with He-Ne laser (633nm) provides measurements of hydrodynamical sizes of nanoparticles in the range of 0.3 nm – 10 μm and with the accessory cell, it also provides measurements of zeta-potential of particles surfaces in suspensions. In static light scattering mode, it is possible to determinate the molecular weight of molecules.